Tips for Dealing With the Trials of Life

James 1:2-8

2 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

INTRODUCTION

A- There are different approaches to handling the trials of life.

1- The Rabbit Approach: Run as fast as you can from the trial.

2- The Ostrich Approach: Bury your head in the sand and ignore the trial, hoping it will go away.

3- The Bull-Dog Approach: Attack the perceived source of the trial, trying to destroy it.

4- The Parrot Approach: Talk about the trial, using someone else’s words, but don't try to handle it.

5- The Right (Scriptural) Approach:

I- APPROACH TRIALS WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (JAMES 1:2-3)

James 1:2–3 (NLT)

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

A- An attitude of joy (JAMES 1:2)

James 1:2 (NLT)

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

1- Because the trial does not change your relationship to God.

(John 10:27-30).

John 10:27–30 (NLT)

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

30 The Father and I are one.”

(I Cor. 10: 13).

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

B- An attitude of understanding. (JAMES 1:3)

James 1:3 (NLT)

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

1- The trial is an opportunity to exercise faith. (Jas. 2:18).

James 2:18 (NLT)

18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

2- The trial will help build your character.

a- Job

b- Early Apostles (Acts 5:41-42).

Acts 5:41–42 (NLT)

41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

II- ALLOW THE TESTING TIME TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PURPOSE (JAMES 1:3-4).

A- Allow the trial to fulfill its complete task in you. (JAMES 1:4a).

James 1:4a (NLT)

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

1- There is an ultimate goal to your trials.

(Rom. 8:28-29).

Romans 8:28–29 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

2- Attempting to bail out before God delivers you will short-circuit the best for you.

a- There are some things that we can’t learn except through the trials and tests.

1) God's Faithfulness

(Heb. 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

(1 Cor. 1:9)

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT)

9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(1 Cor. 10:13).

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

2) Our need of Him.

* King David learned through tests

-When chased by King Saul

- When chased by Absalom

B- The purpose of the trial is to build your character. (JAMES 1:4b).

1- You are not to remain at spiritual infancy. (2 Peter 3:18).

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

2- Trials strengthen you and help you to grow spiritually.

3- There is a process that trials produce in us.

(Rom. 5:2-5)

Romans 5:2–5 (NLT)

2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

III- ASK CHRIST FOR THE WISDOM TO FACE THE TEST (JAMES 1:5-6).

James 1:5–6 (NLT)

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

A- There is a place to go when the way is not clear. (JAMES 1:5).

James 1:5 (NLT)

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

1- Sometimes we all face situations we don’t know how to handle.

2- When you lack wisdom, go to the one who has all wisdom and knowledge.

a- He sees and knows all:

* Saw Nathaniel 's past, present and future (John 1:47-50).

John 1:47–50 (NLT)

47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”

B- There is an endless storehouse available for us. (JAMES 1:5b).

1- God is not stingy with his wisdom or supply.

(Phil. 4:19).

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

2- God does not chide us for not having the wisdom to handle our own affairs.

a- He knows we don’t have the ability within ourselves

(Psa. 103:14)

Psalm 103:14 (NLT)

14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

b- Therefore commands us to call on Him

(Heb. 4:16).

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

3- God promises to provide the answers we need (Matt. 7:7).

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

C- The way to ask for help is believing. (JAMES 1:6).

James 1:6 (NLT)

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

1- Always trust the answer that God gives.

2- Don't vacillate, simply obey

IV- ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FOCUS UPON CHRIST. (JAMES 1:7-8).

James 1:7–8 (NLT)

7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

A- You can’t get wisdom from God and operate by earthly reasoning. (JAMES 1:7).

1- God's wisdom and earthly reasoning don’t mesh! (Isa. 55:8).

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

2- You must choose which one you will live by.

a- To choose one is to utterly reject the other.

(Matt. 6:24)

Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

(Lk. 16:13)

Luke 16:13 (NLT)

13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

B- Double-mindedness produces instability in other areas of life. (JAMES 1:8).

James 1:8 (NLT)

8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

1- You are double-minded when you attempt to live by two standards.

a- You can't do it (Matt. 12:30).

Matthew 12:30 (NLT)

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

2- Double-mindedness causes instability in all areas of life.

a- Never sure which one to employ in a given situation.

* Double-Mindedness clouded the wise sensitivities of Solomon, leading him into idolatry. (1 Kings 11:1-11).

1 Kings 11:1–11 (NLT)

1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.

2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.

3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.

5 Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.

7 On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

8 Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.

9 The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

10 He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command.

11 So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.

CONCLUSION:

A- In order to successfully handle the tests and trials that will come your way:

1- Make sure you have been saved

a- Without Jesus in your life, you don’t have access to the wisdom of the Father.

b- This leaves you only the incomplete, inadequate reasoning of men to govern your life by.

2- Follow the scriptural tips for handling trials:

a- -APPROACH TRIALS WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

b- ALLOW THE TESTING TIME TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PURPOSE

c- ASK CHRIST FOR THE WISDOM TO FACE THE TEST

d- ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FOCUS UPON CHRIST